Chapter 1022 The Fall Of Falcon Scott (40)
Bloodwave begins their ascent, mindful of Sunny and Naeve’s human limitations, even though Sunny questions his own susceptibility to the bends given his strange blood. Sunny retreats inward, distancing himself from the reality of Falcon Scott and the Devouring Cloud, craving rest above all else. He reflects on the likelihood of immediate combat upon their return.
Remembering the Memory gained from Sybil’s demise, Sunny steels himself for a potentially unavoidable battle, hoping the new power will grant him an edge. He checks on Saint and Nightmare, relieved to find them alive. Focusing on the new Memory, Sunny examines the runes. A new set reads: “Memory: [Shroud of Graceless Dusk]”. He muses on the name, finding the connection to burial garbs unsettling, but shrugs it off, too weary to dwell on morbid ironies.
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The Memory’s stats reveal it is a Transcendent Rank, Tier VI armor, the strongest reward Sunny has ever received from a kill. “Lucky,” Sunny thinks, considering his current lack of protection. The Memory’s description unveils the history of the Sybils: “Sybils were the heralds of the gods and conduits of divine grace…” and speaks of their quest to escape the end by leading their people to the Tomb of Ariel.
Chapter 1023 The Fall Of Falcon Scott (41)
Sunny and Naeve collapse on the pebble beach, exhausted after their harrowing escape. Naeve, surprised by their survival, questions Sunny’s ability to defeat the horror, asking, “How did you manage to kill that horror, anyway?” Sunny, weary but alive, grimly attributes his victory to fate, stating, “I guess it was just fate… that fiend was fated to die by my hand.” Naeve wryly remarks, “Never took you for a fatalist.”
Suddenly, Bloodwave appears, his presence commanding. With a sigh, the Saint vanishes in a burst of speed that leaves Sunny and Naeve stunned. The shore seems eerily empty, save for the corpses of Nightmare Creatures, a deceptive calm broken only by distant cannon fire. Snowflakes dance in the air as they fall from the empty sky.
The fortress looms ahead, its defenses breached and lights extinguished. Sunny’s heart plummets as he remembers the terrified refugees and sees the silhouettes moving through the rubble, their steps unsteady. The battle appears over, and the ships remain unharmed, but the damage to the port is undeniable. Sunny summons the Puppeteer’s Shroud, then tells the crestfallen Naeve that he “think[s] you should take a look.”
Chapter 1024 The Fall Of Falcon Scott (42)
Inside a familiar office in the underground complex, Sunny, Jet, and Winter gather, the room echoing with the absence of their fallen comrade, Dale. Winter, sunglasses obscuring her grief, acknowledges Dale’s death, stating, “I knew that the fool was going to get himself killed, eventually.” Despite her casual tone, Sunny senses her strain and offers his condolences. Winter, in turn, urges them to survive, declaring to Sunny that he is “too young and cute to die.”
Master Jet breaks the somber mood to update them on the siege. The defensive wall still stands, though breached in five places, and Army Command expresses confidence that the barrier will hold unless a catastrophic event unfolds. Winter presses for information on the priority targets, celebrating the recent victories against the Terror and the Devouring Cloud’s Brood.
Jet reveals that the Heart of Darkness has vanished, offering temporary relief, but warns that Goliath is expected to arrive within the next two days. The uncomfortable silence that follows highlights the gravity of their situation. The threat looms over Falcon Scott.
Chapter 1025 The Fall Of Falcon Scott (43)
Sunny leaves the underground complex and steps into the snow-covered streets of Falcon Scott. He finds the city strangely neglected, streetlights flickering erratically and snow left uncleaned. Sunny wonders if the abandonment is due to the ongoing evacuation, where only a third of the original two hundred million remain. He muses to himself, “Is this a good sign, or a bad sign?” as he makes his way towards the Rhino.
Despite the chaotic atmosphere and recent battles, Sunny feels surprisingly invigorated. The source of his vitality is the Shroud of Graceless Dusk, a Transcendent Memory now worn as a black silk tunic. He studies the garment, noting its intricate silver embroidery and the soft, silent shoes that accompany it. He discovered the tunic is surprisingly durable, impervious to most attacks, even surviving acid.
Although the Graceless Dusk isn’t traditional armor, leaving vulnerable areas exposed and offering little protection against blunt force, Sunny values its benefits. It is lightweight, allows for silent movement, and, most importantly, possesses other, yet undefined, advantages that far exceed its defensive shortcomings. Sunny continues to ponder the possibilities of the Shroud of Graceless Dusk, eager to test its true potential.
Chapter 1026 The Fall Of Falcon Scott (44)
Sunny encounters the emotionless Onyx Saint, who offers no reaction to the unfolding events. Frustrated, Sunny pleads, “Oh, come on… don’t you understand what is happening? Just… emote, please! It won’t kill you… I think…” Her continued silence aches at his heart. He then pulls up his rune stats, noting his Ascended rank and the growing count of Shadow Fragments, now nearing three thousand. More importantly, he focuses on Saint’s stats, revealing she’s just shy of saturation, requiring a few more fragments to fully recover.
Because time is now a precious commodity, Sunny contemplates sacrificing some of his own Memories. He cherishes them all, each possessing its unique usefulness, whether it’s battle prowess, insurance, or sentimental value. He considers sacrificing the Silver Bell, his first Memory, a memento of happier times. Ultimately, Sunny knows he must make the difficult choice.
With a sigh, Sunny summons three Memories: the Incessant Seeker, a powerful arrow; the Broken Oath, a soul-eroding charm; and a heavy kunai. The Incessant Seeker, an Ascended arrow, could deal immense damage, but he already possesses other ways to accomplish similar results. As always, Sunny winces when he sees Broken Oath, reminding him of the burden he is about to endure.
Chapter 1027 The Fall Of Falcon Scott (45)
Sunny readies to sacrifice the Memories, but first marvels at Saint’s Transcendence, struggling to grasp that a being of such immense power now serves him. He recognizes that Saints hold a special place, almost like demigods, inspiring both awe and distance. Although a Master himself, Sunny acknowledges a significant gap between him and legendary Saints. He wonders if Saint’s power truly rivals that of human Saints. “In terms of purely physical prowess, she was at least on par with them, and most likely far superior,” Sunny acknowledges, yet human Transcendents possess Aspects and powerful Abilities that Saint lacks. He concludes that Saint would likely lose a one-on-one fight against a human Transcendent, unless augmented by his shadows. “Luckily, he had no intention of combating Saints any time soon.”
Dismissing Saint for now, Sunny begins cleaning the Rhino APC after her Transcendence. “See, the day is only getting better and better…” he sighs sarcastically, the Rhino is in a sorry state, but remains functional. Sunny finds himself increasingly detached from the normal day/night cycle, as it’s always night in Antarctica. He eats a late supper/early breakfast and relaxes for a moment. The siege capital’s communication array activates, providing Sunny with a message from Rain.
Sunny reads Rain’s response with relief. It is shorter than usual, but she is clearly unaffected by the Spell. He worries about her safety after witnessing so many mundane’s deaths from the First Nightmare. “She’s okay. She’s safe… there is no reason for her to contract the Spell, to begin with. And even if she does, Serpent is with her,” Sunny reasons, reassuring himself of her safety.
Chapter 1028 The Fall Of Falcon Scott (46)
Sunny’s cohort approaches the Rhino, reacting with stunned disbelief to the damage caused by Saint’s Transcendence. Luster, especially horrified by the state of his beloved vehicle, mumbles about potential titan crashes. Sunny bluntly explains, “I had a lady over. She Transcended,” which Luster dismisses as a joke. Shaking his head, Sunny addresses his soldiers, preparing them for Goliath’s imminent arrival and a potential breach of the wall. He emphasizes that they must prevent Nightmare Creatures from entering the city, and, “Don’t be stupid and die an unnecessary death. I need you alive… to fight tomorrow, and the day after tomorrow, and the day after that. Dying might as well be considered desertion, at this point. No one is allowed to die without my permission. Understood?”
The cohort, invigorated by his words, responds with enthusiastic affirmations like “Yes, sir!” and “Wouldn’t think of it!”. One soldier even declares, “I am scared of you way more than I’m scared of death, sir! I wouldn’t dare!” Before reaching the wall’s secondary defense ring, Sunny abruptly halts the Rhino and tells them to wait.
He walks towards a familiar dormitory tower. Snow covers the ground around the entrance. Sunny stares grimly at the building’s doors for a moment, and the reader anticipates the significance of it. Finally, he sighs and reaffirms a silent promise: “Even if the whole city is destroyed, this damned dormitory must remain standing. I’ll make sure of it.” With renewed resolve, Sunny turns and heads back to the Rhino, ready to face the coming storm.
Chapter 1029 The Fall of Falcon Scott (47)
The First Army soldiers brace against the howling winds atop the city wall, their grim faces reflecting the uncertainty of Goliath’s attack. With breaches scattered across the defensive barrier, they are dispersed along the perimeter, unable to pinpoint the titan’s point of entry. Sunny and Jet, positioned above the main entrance near the ravaged Nightmare Gate, fight the Call, with their two cohorts of Irregulars. Annoyance and anxiety fill Sunny, who is interrupted by Jet, who simply says, “Why don’t you cut it?”.
An awkward exchange ensues about his inability to use mundane scissors and a potential Awakened hairstylist back in NQSC, to which Sunny laughs, “Sure. When we’re back in NQSC.” He then asks Jet about their chances of destroying Goliath. Soul Reaper responds with confidence, “As long as you pull off your part of the plan, pretty sure.” Jet suddenly raises her hand, silencing them. After straining to listen above the wind, Sunny hears a distant, muffled sound.
“Boom,” it echoes, followed by another agonizing pause. “Boom.” Sunny rises, staring into the blizzard, and the chilling realization washes over him. “He’s coming.” The thunderous steps of the colossal giant reverberate through the world, unseen but powerfully felt, causing the soldiers to grip their weapons with trembling hands as the ground quakes beneath them. Boom… boom…
Chapter 1030 The Fall of Falcon Scott (48)
As Goliath advances, shaking the city with each step, Sunny summons Saint. Master Jet, ever vigilant, prepares to launch herself into the fray, her glaive materializing from the swirling snow. Rail guns and turrets erupt in a deafening roar, tearing through the blizzard to target the approaching titan.
From the shadows, Saint strides onto the wall, her onyx armor radiating a fearsome presence. A shout rings out: “It’s Mongrel!” The soldiers, initially shaken by the sight of Goliath, are revitalized by her arrival. “Show that ugly boulder who’s in charge, Mongrel!” they yell. In contrast, Sunny remains unnoticed, his fame overshadowed by the mystique of his alter ego. “Doesn’t matter…” he thinks, watching the titan, and calls upon his trump card, the “Siege Souvenir,” his painstakingly crafted payback gift to Goliath.
Suddenly, a massive, white javelin appears in Saint’s hand, radiating immense power. This is the enchanted quill of a Corrupted Devil, a Transcendent Memory imbued with potent magic. The Siege Souvenir possesses only two enchantments: The first is [Death Dealer], copied from Morgan’s Warbow.
Chapter 1031 The Fall of Falcon Scott (49)
As Goliath advances relentlessly, the earth trembles under his colossal weight. Turrets blaze, unleashing torrents of bullets into the horde, but the massive titan remains unscathed. Despite the barrage, the soldiers, Awakened, and Masters feel a sense of despair. However, Sunny remains fixated on the approaching behemoth, whispering to himself, “‘Closer… get closer…'” He knows the Siege Souvenir is their only hope, a one-shot chance to cripple the titan.
Saint raises the white javelin and places it on her shoulder as the shadows coalesce around her, her black armor now radiating a more intense and terrifying presence. She then augments it with the [Blade of Darkness]. To further enhance her power, Sunny summons the Shadow Lantern, enveloping them in a sphere of darkness. “‘Almost there…'” he thinks, the fastest Nightmare Creatures closing in on the wall, while Goliath marches towards the breach.
But just as Sunny prepares to give the command, Goliath’s massive head turns, his gaze piercing directly through Sunny. “What…” The titan’s milky eye quivers, revealing a second, furious red eye, burning like magma, with three incandescent pupils. A wave of unbearable heat washes over Sunny, melting the snow above and, to his horror, even the seventy-meter tall defensive wall of Falcon Scott.
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The sight of enemies flooding towards the ravaged wall leaves Sunny and Jet grim. Soul Reaper states the obvious: “This is bad. This is really bad…” Falcon Scott now faces two critical threats. First, the overwhelming horde of Nightmare Creatures pours across the killing field, overwhelming the compromised wall. Turrets are destroyed, railguns damaged, and MWPs obliterated. Seven hundred Awakened stand as the primary defense, but reinforcements are too far away. Second, the Heart of Darkness advances: four rivers of ravenous beetles, capable of devouring armor and flesh, close in. These vermin become even more dangerous with Falcon Scott’s damaged defenses.
As Sunny watches, Winter’s flaming arrow strikes the beetles. Jet angrily hisses, stating, “There is no choice but to retreat to the secondary defense perimeter…If we don’t want to lose the city, we need to push the horde back and give the men enough time to run. We also need to obliterate the damned bugs!” Sunny realizes pushing back the horde means a near-suicidal sortie into the killing field. But the alternative—abandoning the mundane soldiers and retreating—weighs heavily. Sunny knows that without morale and mutual trust, Falcon Scott is doomed.
Master Jet, as the ranking officer, faces the impossible choice, but after a moment, she shouts with her voice augmented by a special Memory to be heard far and wide.
Chapter 1034 The Fall Of Falcon Scott (52)
Master Jet’s command necessitates a rapid, but dangerous, sortie into the killing field. Due to damaged chutes, the Awakened use varied methods to descend, with Saint leading the charge upon Nightmare, slaughtering enemies. Sunny follows, gliding down and landing like a cannonball amidst the creatures. He carves a space with the Sin of Solace, and his cohort joins him to establish a beachhead, their faces grim with the knowledge that this battle may be their last.
As Sunny battles, he ponders the courage of the Awakened. “Surely, all of them valued their lives… maybe if left alone, most would listen to their fear and their desire to survive, and choose to save themselves instead.” He muses on their collective spirit, alien to his own self-preservation, while questioning his own reasons for joining the suicidal attack. Is it stubbornness, pride, or something more? The word “selfless” seems rather vile and frightening to Sunny. After all, his self was all he had. Without it, what was the point of staying alive?”
Gritting his teeth, Sunny advances, a graceful butcher cloaked in shadow and blood, leading his cohort towards the river of beetles. Just as the Irregulars prepare to clash with the Heart of Darkness, Bloodwave arrives. The Saint lands with earth-shattering force. Away from water, most of his powers would be of no use…
Chapter 1035 The Fall Of Falcon Scott (53)
A torrent of shadows erupts from Sunny’s belt lantern, colliding with the wave of beetles. He unleashes every dark power at his disposal, creating a wall of shadows. The night itself answers Sunny’s call. But despite the destruction, the beetles are infinite and begin to overwhelm the shadows, tunneling through the barrier. Sunny grits his teeth, pouring more essence to strengthen the wall. “Damnation!”
Sunny unleashes the Sin of Solace and moves with blurring speed, joined by Samara, who sacrifices alloy beads and essence to momentarily stem the beetle tide. Sunny becomes a whirlwind of jade, crushing the creatures. Belle, Dorn, and Kim fight desperately to defend Sunny’s rear as he divides his mind, battling and controlling the shadows. Dorn smashes beetles with his sledgehammer while Belle baits them, phasing and slashing. Kim uses her rapier and buckler to the best of her abilities.
Despite their efforts, the beetles are relentless. Sunny realizes it’s not enough, and the creatures are breaching his defenses. “This isn’t working… this is not enough…” He shudders at the thought of being devoured from within. Bloodwave, Saint, and Jet are engaged with other parts of the Heart of Darkness, leaving the Irregulars to face this overwhelming darkness alone. Sunny knows that, if nothing changes, he and his soldiers will be devoured.
Chapter 1036 The Fall Of Falcon Scott (54)
Amidst the relentless swarm of black beetles, Sunny fights to keep his dam of shadows intact, feeling their mandibles scraping against his skin. He reflects on his mastery of Shadow Manifestation, recalling his early, crude attempts that evolved into intricate creations like shadow hands. If he can create hands, what prevents him from shaping shadows into a full creature?
The answer, he knows, is complexity. Shaping even a hand was arduous. Constructing a fully animated creature would be exponentially harder, and it might only amount to a glorified Ascended weapon. But Sunny remembers the Shadow Dance. If he can decipher a creature’s essence and physicality, then mimic the shape of its shadow, creating a shell of shadows, then the creature’s form would be easier to make. “It’s like a… it’s like a suit of exoskeleton armor in the shape of a Nightmare Creature…”
Behind him, Kim’s swift rapier saves Dorn from a burrowing beetle, drawing blood. Sunny understands that he has to create an exoskeleton armor in the shape of a Nightmare Creature, with himself powering it instead of the other way around. He can then assume the shape of a Nightmare Creature, just like Soul Serpent. He takes a deep breath. A savage expression crosses his face, and he declares, “I think…” before narrowly dodging a lunging pest.
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As the Shadow Devil, Sunny explodes with terrifying might, now three meters tall, lunging into the beetles and eviscerating them with four swords – Sin of Solace, Midnight Shard, and two forged from shadows. He moves with staggering speed, creating a translucent sphere of devastation. He doesn’t need control, just “more speed, more attacks,” and the increased reach decimates the swarm, giving Samara time to renew her essence bombardment. Strangely, being the Shadow Devil feels natural; he summons memories of the Second Nightmare, bringing them to life through the Shadow Dance, shadowing a memory instead of the creature itself.
The essence demands are high, rapidly draining his reserves, while he still has to maintain his Memories and the shadow dam. Despite the improved situation, they are still on a timer. Sunny pushes past his perceived limits, his strength and speed escalating beyond his thoughts, destroying countless beetles. He hurls a shadow sword and creates an arrow of lightning, unleashing an incinerating chain reaction. “Don’t think about it right now. Just… kill! Kill as many as you can! The damned beetles have to have a breakpoint, too…” He is somehow holding the swarm back.
Sunny, as the Shadow Devil, stands as a magnet for the beetles, grinding them to dust before they can overwhelm him. Samara continues her explosive barrage, fed by Luster’s essence, while Belle, Dorn, and Kim deal with those that slip through, all nearing their limits but holding on.
